My Schwinn Recumbent Bike Review

What’s so great about a Schwinn recumbent bike? Well, if you are a closet couch potato like me, there’s no better way to combine exercise with your favorite activity. Sitting. Whether you prefer reading, watching TV or chatting on the phone, the Schwinn 240 recumbent bike will free you to indulge your inner couch potato as you burn those calories away. A Schwinn recumbent bike, unlike traditional upright bikes, is designed for comfort. Recumbent literally means ‘to recline’. So you could think of a recumbent bike as the ‘lazy boy’ of the exercise world; except this one will actually help you get fit.

What You Need To Look For

There are a few things you need to look for before choosing any bike for your home. A recumbent bike is no different. These are:

How comfortable is it? (Obviously!)

Can the resistance be adjusted?

How stable is it to ride?

How much space is it going to take up?

What extra features does it have?

Is it noisy?

No pain, no gain?… Not anymore.

There’s no equipment or exercise that can stop tired and growing muscles from being sore after a good workout. This doesn’t mean that you should have to feel pain or discomfort WHILE exercising. A Schwinn recumbent bike is ergonomically designed to reduce strain on your body so that you don’t have to hurt in order to get in shape.

The Schwinn 240 is designed for maximum comfort and accessibility. The large comfy seat is great if you hate trying to painfully balance on the tiny thin seats that regular bikes have. With extra padding and lumbar support for your lower back, a Schwinn recumbent bike is perfect for those that suffer with back pain issues. It’s much easier to maintain proper posture on a recumbent bike as well, over a regular upright bike. The side mounted handlebars can also provide extra support or balance should you need it.

Since the seat is fully adjustable forward and back, the Schwinn 240 recumbent bike fits your height, short or tall. No more stretching to reach the pedals or tucking your knees in. Simply pull the pin, move the seat as needed and you are all set to ride with ease.

Getting on and off bikes can be a problem for some people. Maybe due to injury, weight or age. No worries. With an open walkthrough frame, it’s easy to sit down and get up. There’s nothing to step over or trip on.

Even the pedals are designed for comfort. They are oversized and have easy to use slip in straps. No more dreading having your foot slip off anymore. Just pedal.Resistance Fit For YouWhen looking at the resistance that a bike offers, there are two things to keep in mind:

Are there enough levels of resistance to fit MY performance level?

How difficult is it to change the resistance level?

Everyone is at different levels of fitness. So everyone needs resistance levels to match their performance. With 16 levels of resistance, the Schwinn 240 recumbent bike gives you a good range to grow with your fitness level over time.

The onboard computer can also be set to use any of the 17 workout programs or the 8 course profiles. These are designed to keep your workout fresh from day to day. The more you vary your workouts, the less your muscles will get used to an exercise. Keeping your muscles guessing will help you avoid hitting a workout plateau. There are also 2 custom profiles for preset workouts and to track your ongoing fitness progress, with an extra guest profile for non regular users.

Since the Schwinn 240 is built around comfort, it stands to reason that it should also be easy to use. It is. Inside, controlling the resistance, is an Eddy Current Brake (ECB) system. This controls how fast the bike spins, and how much resistance you feel as you pedal, through electromagnets rather than conventional friction brakes. The real benefit of this system is that changing the level of resistance is as easy as pushing a button. No awkward gears, pins or levers.

How Stable Is It?

No one wants a bike that is rocking side to side or has you fearing that the bike will tip over because you are pedaling too fast. The Schwinn recumbent bike has built in stabilizers and frame leveler so that this doesn’t happen. It also has a 20 pound flywheel for smooth consistent motion from the pedals, which also limits the rocking when pedaling at a high rate.

Will I Have Enough Room At Home?

So how big is this bike? Smaller than you would think. The Schwinn 240 measures in at 63″ in length, 25″ wide and 46″ in height. It’s small enough to fit in just about any living space without it becoming an oversized clothing rack. It even comes with built in transport wheels on the front end so you moving it out of the way is easy and simple.

Noise Can Be Annoying

It seems that noise level is commonly one of those things that people think about AFTER buying a bike. When it really should be one of your main criteria. Even small noises can become very annoying over time. Thanks to the ECB system, you don’t have to worry about noise. As one reviewer from Amazon.com put it:”The bike is scary QUIET!”

You Want Extras?

While getting a quality product is a reward in itself, there is nothing wrong with some bonus features. And this Schwinn recumbent bike has a few.

Backlit, multicolor LCD console with large fonts, easy to read even in dim rooms.

Adjustable console position for easy reach and viewing.

The console tracks: Time, Interval Time, RPM, Watts, Distance, Pulse/Heart Rate, Speed, Calories, Resistance Level Tracking is switchable from miles to kilometers

Heart rate monitor integrated into the handlebars, also supports the use of remote heart rate monitors.

Water bottle holderReading rackStorage rack under the seat

Warranty

Name brands, while not what they used to be, are still important. Schwinn has been involved in the bicycle industry for over 100 years now. They are still one of the leading bike manufacturers for both outdoor and indoor activities. A name with a history this long puts my mind at ease, and the 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com seems to back this up. The Schwinn 240 is the latest offering in their recumbent bike lineup, replacing the Schwinn 231.

The warranty included with the Schwinn 240 recumbent bike is also pretty good when compared to the rest of the market. Some manufacturers only offer up to a couple years on the frame and maybe a few months on parts and electronics. While the warranty on the Schwinn isn’t the best out there, it is the best in its price range from what I can tell through my research: 5 year warranty on the frame1 year for mechanical and electric parts90 days for general wear

Any Complaints?

Judging by the 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com, there is not much negative to say about this Schwinn recumbent bike. The common complaint seems to be centered around the setup of the bike. Several people mention that the instructions are poorly written. This can make setup more difficult than it needs to be. Thankfully, one kind reviewer on Amazon.com has left detailed instructions on how to setup the bike with out too much trouble.

Either way, expect the setup to take at least an hour. Having a second person around to help also seems to be a good idea.

Other Things To Be Aware Of

There is a recommended weight limit of 300 pounds (136 kg). While some people that exceed this weight have reliably used this bike, I would still recommend adhering to this weight limit. Just to be safe.

The Schwinn 240 does require AC power so you will need to either keep it near an outlet or make use of an extension cord.

This Schwinn recumbent bike weighs in at 117 pounds (53 kg), but the transport wheels make moving this a breeze. Just don’t expect to take it up and down stairs easily.

Where Can I Buy It?

The Schwinn 240 is available from Amazon.com. When compared to other online merchants they seem to have the best deal at this time. In addition they are offering free shipping, which makes this an even better deal for the price.

Where Can I Find More Reviews?

There are plenty of reviews, from people who actually use a Schwinn recumbent bike, over at Amazon.com.

Final Thoughts

If you want to get in shape, this is a good bike. A Schwinn recumbent bike is especially suited for those with joint, back or knee problems, where an upright bike would be painful or possibly worsen the situation. Since the Schwinn 240 is comfortable, quiet and reliable it’s a good buy for almost anyone looking to add some activity to their daily home life.